Ship Log - Verse Date: 4216.12 

Traveling the universe is easy. It's the multiverse that makes things difficult for the Infinitum, a spaceship capable of interversal travel. Activation of the black matter reactor begins our journey through the depths of this black hole. The intense spiraling abyss makes me queasy, and the time difference is nothing compared to the time zones of earth. We emerge from its grasp into a beautiful new world, unexplored by our kind. Unfortunately, its not always roses and grasslands. If you had been on the previous jumps, you would be very unsure of yourself right now.

After a jump, the shakes take hold. Makes for a terrible two days. Once it was so bad, Captain Mallick had to put the ship on autopilot for five days. We nearly got swallowed by a giant space beetle in Verse 5999. That's a large beetle-like earth creature with an insatiable appetite for steel, so our ship would have been a hefty meal.

We still haven't figured out how to consistently get around to different Verses yet, so it's mostly a crapshoot to whether we will make it back to the universe or not after a jump. Our universe was dubbed Verse 1 for namesake since it was our first, but in the grand scheme of things, who could be sure which was which. However, you can't figure things out if you don't name them first, so that's what the first exploration starships did.

My name is Tod Loon, and I'm 1st lieutenant of the Infinitum exploration vessel. We were commissioned by a corporate government after the previous government of the people was overthrown for its wasteful ways. Elliotte Wells, an honest and moral business man, began privatizing government services one by one, until one day all governments no longer had the power they once did. His parent company, Bluith, took over government operations at that point.

It wasn't bad though. People started actually receiving proper treatment, and everyone had enough money, food, housing, and clothing. So, there was no longer any need for war, and killing each other. After we ended all the reasons for having a war, space travel was an inevitable outcome. When the human race no longer feared each other, they turned their whits to the stars.

We could hardly resist the temptation to travel the universe, so over the next 1400 years we built the first interplanetary, intersolar, and intergalactic propulsion drives capable of traveling at light speed. So much so, that eventually we had explored all there was to be seen in the universe. And yes, we found life. There is life on many planets, slight variations, and the occasional monster, but mostly humanoid. Some not so friendly, some a little too friendly if you can picture it.

Our travels lead to an amazing discovery at the edge of the universe, a wall. A wall we could not cross no matter how many different studies we performed. So around 300 years ago scientist working in one of Bluith's orbital research labs was able to build the black matter reactor while orbiting a black hole. Purely by accident, they ended up slipping through the black hole due to the gravitational pull between the two objects, and ended up being our first ever interverse jump to Verse 2.

Since then, we have discovered 6003 Verses. This one being number 6003, and along the way we've mostly gotten our ships back. About 70% to be exact. Wasn't like they were dead, and never coming back of course. Their return is still possible, but until we can figure out how to control the damn thing, we just have to wing it.

This is my 15th interversal jump, and I have never seen something quite like this place before. I have only seen 15 Verses in person, but as a cadet you get to see them all in the observatory. It is a hologram-like place on every ship that allows you to see anywhere we have visited in this reality, and it seems so real. You can even touch things with your hands in there and feel them as if you're actually there.

This is the only job I ever had that I truly love. Every day when I wake up I feel excited for a new day of discovery and honorable achievements among the stars. The day I went from being a cadet to being a 2nd lieutenant, I felt a hole deep inside of me getting filled. That's the day I knew I would be a captain of a starship one day. I just had to get some experience under my belt.

My recent evaluation for captain didn't end well. The very reason I wanted the job, was the reason the ship psychologist said I wasn't ready for it. "You want people to tell you, you did a good job." She said. Who doesn't want that? I can't stop. Being the best is what gives me drive to even be a captain in the first place.

Anyway, somehow, one day, I'll get there if I just stick with it long enough. If I'm not a captain in the next 5 years I don't know what I'll do. I'd be sad I guess.

"Lietinient loon"

"Yes Captain Mallick"

"Bring us about to port speed, and let's unload the docking station. Give it time to expand"

"I sir"

We have this peculiar docking station that we unload in every new Verse we visit. It is something like an ancient blow up mattress people used to use. I'd seen them in a museum in the observatory, but I don't quite understand it. Doesn't seem like a comfortable bit at all. Later someone adopted a similar idea for hurricanes and tornadoes and started covering houses and property with a similar tent-like structure which would prevent wind damage. Insurance companies loved it until they went out of business because no one needed their services anymore. That's another Bluith product.

Everyone hated being forced to purchase insurance, when premiums kept going up and they would never help you when you needed it. Or so I've read. So, it was a welcomed downfall.

Money isn't a thing anymore though. We adopted a new system based on honor and respect, because we had to have something to motivate people after the need for currency was gone.

Seems to me that getting rid of money was the best thing we ever did though given all the wars they used to have back then. I would have hated to be alive then. Everyone killing each other for resources. We have plenty of resources now since we finished mapping Verse 1. The problems we have now are, when we find new civilizations, we never know if we will end up in a battle or brunch. Or, we might even be brunch sometimes.

You might be asking yourself, how does he know all this stuff? When I was a cadet at the academy, history was required and you had to study a lot of ancient history too. Electives were available, and I loved history so much that I chose every history class available. Stuff like that will come in handy when it comes time to command my first starship. Fingers crossed it's the Infinitum.

The docking station is unfolding now, and when it is fully expanded teams from the Infinitum will board, and start building actual structures around it. Eventually it will be replaced completely, but that is going to take a few years of course. After we drop of the exploration teams, we will begin our next jump.

The team of explorers assigned to the docking station are given two of everything. Two ships, two doctors, two physicists, you get the idea. The team itself can rebuild most things if they don't have a certain thing, or if both of the items provided break. Each one heavily trained to do almost anything. They will explore nearby planets, bring resources to the docking station, and develop maps so we can locate needed items in the event we can one day consistently return to previous Verses. Until then, the growing civilization in this verse can use whatever they need because once we leave, they won't have anyone but themselves for some time.

In our travels, we have never visited a Verse more than once, so we aren't sure what happened to those people after we left. We've been lucky enough to be able to get back to Verse 1 sometimes, but it isn't guaranteed.

Sometimes, I wonder what could be happening to the team in Verse 6002, or 6001. Some have speculated that they could have fallen into the same primal behavior our ancestors had, and could be fighting each other this very second. I am optimistic. Bluith exploration teams are highly disciplined. Although, it is a fundamental nature of living organisms to fight each other, especially when resources are scarce. It takes a great deal of will power to stop yourself, and humanity from spiraling into homicidal rage. Mostly we are able to keep it at bay by ensuring a constant supply of resources. So, we are hopeful that we can find consistent capability to travel between verses soon. That will ensure many millions more years of resources and peace the same.

"Lieutenant Loon, prepare the exploration team. You and I are going on a special trip this time." Captain Mallock said with a big grin on his face.

Oh god. When he has that smirk on his face, and that pepper attitude it is never a good thing. Not a bad thing in the sense I will be in trouble, just not a good thing either. The last time he was like this, he was trying to hook me up with a Daplopod. That's a quite attractive civilization of humanoids in Sector 12 (about 2.537 million light years from Earth). The females are all fit, sweet, and treat the men like kings. Obviously, I was interested. But Captain Mallock didn't realize she was half Daplopod and half Keralette. And that meant all the lovely features that made me interested to date a Daplopod, would be mixed with the exact opposite features of a Keralette.

The genetic gamble was not in my favor. She was terrible, she took me against my will, and ripped my clothes off. I felt violated. So, needless to say I was not eager to find out what he was up to.

"No!" I told him.

"What? Why not?"

"Because remember the Daplopod and a half? That's why."

"Oh come on. Anybody could have made that mistake."

"Your a captain, your supposed to be perfect compared to other people, you know."

"You've got a lot to learn if you think I'm perfect, Lieutenant."

"Ok. But, I don't want you trying to hook me up with anyone else. I nearly didn't make it out of there alive last time. Still got the torn uniform top to prove it"

Captain Mallock shook his head as he turned.

"Come on, Lieutenant. It's nothing like that."

He kept walking, and I had been essentially given an order to follow, so I caught up to him. He has a knack for fibbing to people frequently when he wants to do something nice for them. And I was right to be weary this time too.

"Lieutenant Loon. I'd like to introduce you to Martha."

I was about to give him a crooked evil eye, but she looks rather pleasing I must say. She's the same height as me, smiling with pretty white teeth, long brown hair, and dressed neatly in a Bluith uniform.

"Captain, you've outdone yourself this time" I nudged him with my elbow a few times. Martha started to giggle a bit.

"What's so funny?" I say.

"This will be my replacement." Captain Mallick says.

"What! Captain, can we talk for just a moment. Just excuse us for a moment please, thank you."

The Captain and I step back out the door. The door slides closed automatically.

"Captain, I thought you were going to put me in charge of the Infinitum? It's my life dream to command this ship. And now I'm supposed to work under her."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Do you remember the conversation we just had about the Daplopod. Why do you keep putting me in situations subordinate to women? You got something against me?"

"She's been an exemplary 1st lieutenant for the Jallon 5. She'll be an even better captain for the Infinitum. She comes highly recommended from Captain Porter. You know the battles he fought in. The man's a legend. I couldn't refuse that." Captain Mallick stops talking for a moment as a few Bluith engineers walk by us. Once their down the corridor a bit, I start back in.

"Alright, alright. When am I going to be a captain then"

"Soon enough. And then you'll be wishing you could go back to being a 1st lieutenant. I can assure you that."

We walk back into the docking bay, and she is still standing there waiting. She looks at me kind of funny though.

"So, am I acceptable then?" she asks.

"Yes. Of course, why don't you gather your things and take the night off in your quarters to settle in. We'll resume this tomorrow on the command deck." Captain Mallick says.

I knew he was going to do that to me. It's never a good thing when that man has a grin like that. But what worried me even more, now I had to learn a new captain. No one wants to have to get a new boss. It's a game of roulette. You never know if they're gonna make your life a living hell or a living heaven. She looked nice enough, so I am hopeful she will be a good leader. Still, I'm bitter she got the position and not me. 

No tellin which way it was about to go for me.